damned_institute | Day 35: Twin Pines Restaurant

Being the nice guy that he was deep down, Badou made an effort to chew with his mouth closed. Most of the time. He wanted to finish his steak without the contents of Artemis' stomach drizzled over it.

"I'm a Private Investigator." Plus occasional intermediary, whipping boy, hitman, and grocery store clerk. "Mostly."

Artemis grinned, "Mostly. I find that the part that excludes 'mostly' is often the most interesting part. Such as, 'I am a fourteen year old, mostly'.

"But a private investigator. That must be an interesting job," Artemis took another sip of water. "Do you deal in unfaithful spouses, or mafia rings?" he joked.

Well, he had a point.

"Both." Badou replied, grinning. It was damn uncanny that he managed to bag it in one go. "Preferably not at the same time. Ever again."

Artemis' eyebrows raised, and he burst out laughing. "Well, I haven't been this on top of things since ten days ago!" he chuckled, marveling at his haphazard guess.

"At the same time... I could barely handle the Russian mafiya, but an unfaithful spouse would have been far too much."

Considering that the unfaithful spouse, in that situation, would have been his father.

Badou's eyebrows shot up. "Is there anything you haven't done yet? I don't remember the part of the story about the Russian mafia."

If that was the case, his first guess about Artemis might be right too.

Artemis chuckled, "It was a long time ago. Nearly two years ago, actually. The mafiya was holding my father for ransom, so I took him back."

It hadn't been the smoothest of operations, to be certain, but in the end his father had returned home safely--and a changed man at that. Artemis was beginning to see how near-death experiences had an effect on a man.

"And I'm sure there's something I haven't done. Like taking over a small country."

Badou could hear Artemis' voice in his head. 'It's no big deal. I was twelve back then.'

He remembered his steak and cut of more of it, reminding himself to eat between snatches of conversation. "It's because you've already taken over a large one, right? When I was thirteen my biggest accomplishment was learning how to knit - and if you laugh I swear I'll choke you with this fork."

"Knitting?" Artemis leaned forward a bit. "That's intriguing. Why did you learn to knit?

"Oh," Artemis blinked. "And I haven't taken over a large country either, but it is on the list," he joked. "Now, why did you learn to knit? I haven't figured it out myself."

Badou had to laugh at that one. "Figures." Of course, the mysteries of knitting were the one thing that still baffled Artemis. At least he wasn't being laughed at. Maybe the world wasn't full of assholes, and it was just Haine. And Naoto. And everyone he associated with on a regular basis.

Or maybe Artemis had enough self-preservation instinct to avoid risking death-by-fork.

"I was raised by a delinquent." Badou replied flatly. "I figured I should pick up anything that might be useful. Knitting was slow and boring as hell, but he bet me I couldn't learn how to do it and I was a stupid kid."

Artemis nodded, "We do amazing things when people tell us we can't. When people don't expect great things from us, we deliver. I can empathize with you on this point."

That was one of the better things about being his age. People didn't expect what he could deliver. Though the fairy world was beginning to catch on. Humans were really dumb, weren't they?

"And those who believe that they have no potential, that they are worth nothing, end up being worthless in the end."

"I was just clinging to someone's bootlaces. You don't seem like the type to empathize with that."

He was starting to understand Artemis, or at least that part of him. Being constantly underestimated meant he could and would prove everyone wrong as long as it was within his power. No wonder talking to him in the beginning felt like picking a fight.

His steak finished, he finally took a sip of the water to help it down.

"It doesn't sound that way to me," Artemis said with a chuckle. "It sounds to me like you learned something from the experience, and that is invaluable, in my opinion. Plus, you showed this delinquent-person that you weren't going to take his insults lying down. On the contrary, I like you better for it."

"Huh. I guess it came in handy after all. That's about the only thing it's ever accomplished for me, minus one really ugly scarf."

Artemis might think it was all of that, but that wasn't the way he saw it at all. He'd learned his lessons a little too late, roughly at knife point, and he was still the kind of person who lived too much in the past. The most he'd accomplished was playing into a prank and not falling for the same one twice.

The boy chuckled again, "And we all need at least one really ugly scarf, I suppose.

"And also, surprisingly enough, these," Artemis handed over the transcripts he'd copied--all of them. "It seems these are in higher demand as of late. Any idea why?"

Badou took the transcripts from Artemis. He flipped the journal open to paw through the contents, but he gave the boy's question a half-shrug. "The guys on top are trying to outmaneuver eachother." He replied absently. "I don't know how long that's been going on, but it seems like a good reason to start paying attention."

When he looked up again, it was to give Artemis a skeptical look. "You're handing me all of them just like that?"

"Yes," Artemis confirmed. "I know I said half before, but I don't want to seem too shrewd all at once." The boy smiled.

"Besides, if I felt you would not uphold your end of the deal or just weren't interested in me at all, then yes, I would have withheld half."

This was a risk that Artemis had only done once before, with Near. And even then, he couldn't withhold portions of transcripts as Near gave Artemis his impressions. It would take forever, and soon there wouldn't be anything left to give. No, rapport had to be established, and what better way than being generous and showing some intellectual value?

Badou grinned, tapping the book against his shoulder. Under normal circumstances, this was the part where he ran for the hills (then across some rooftops, down an alley and past the dumpster if he was lucky) because he couldn't, or didn't want to, pay the information fee. He was such a trustworthy guy.

"Right. I'll grab your stuff tomorrow night." And if that corridor was guarded by anything larger than a Dorito, Artemis was screwed.

The waitress chose that moment to reappear and collect the plates. Badou passed her the free meal coupon. It was about time they got going anyway. He still wanted to try bumming a cigarette off some kind and generous soul.

The boy smiled up at the waitress as well and handed her the coupon. It did feel nice to not have to pay for the meal, at least. And yet another connection had been made.

"Excellent," Artemis said. "Please be careful. I hear that the room can be heavily guarded. You should go with another person. Afterwards, perhaps we could meet for breakfast and discuss when I can come to pick it up?"

Well, fuck.

"Works for me. If I don't leave a note on the bulletin, then I'm probably dead." Which would be a good thing to assume, since it would probably happen sooner rather than later when all of this caught up with him. It was starting to feel just like home without the luxuries.

Badou stood, "In which case, I won't regret this." He reached over with one lanky arm and ruffled Artemis' hair. It wasn't an affectionate gesture despite the grin. It was the small, pitiful revenge of a condemned man.

"See you later."

Artemis sunk down in his chair trying to avoid the hair ruffle, to no avail. It was rather comical, though, to see him hunched into his overshirt's collar, looking rather like an irate hedgehog. Why the head? Why was it always a pat on the head?

"Good luck," Artemis called, grumbling a little to himself. No time to be grumpy, though. He had trees to investigate.

The boy left the restaurant and, hugging his overshirt closer (July his arse...) he walked towards the park--not too thrilled to be returning to the place where he'd had the life beaten out of him a week ago.

(To here! (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/450964.html))

Day 35: Twin Pines Restaurant

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